{"id":250,"date":"2007-05-21T09:18:01","date_gmt":"2007-05-21T13:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/?p=250"},"modified":"2010-01-28T00:05:37","modified_gmt":"2010-01-28T04:05:37","slug":"visiting-guru-held-on-sex-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/?p=250","title":{"rendered":"Visiting guru held on sex charges"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Anika Gumbs-Sandiford, guardian.co.tt<\/a>
\nMonday 21st May, 2007<\/i> <\/p>\n

\"Hindu\"A Guru who arrived in Trinidad last week to give religious discourses (sat sangh) throughout the country on Hinduism has been detained in connection with the alleged rape of 22-year-old Guayanese woman. <\/p>\n

The 85-year-old man, who is unable to speak English fluently, is on a one-month visit to T&T. <\/p>\n

He was arrested by police at a house in Palmiste late Friday night.
\n
\nAccording to a police report, at around 11.30 pm on Friday, the woman went to the home of the man to reportedly get spiritual healing. <\/p>\n

The man, the report stated, told the woman to take off her clothes. <\/p>\n

He then sprayed a liquid on the woman\u2019s entire body then sprayed himself with the same liquid. <\/p>\n

The woman claimed that the man then began to fondle her and ordered her not to move. <\/p>\n

The woman told police she was then made to perform oral sex on the man after which the man had sexual intercourse with her for approximately one hour. <\/p>\n

She was then instructed to leave the house. <\/p>\n

Yesterday, devotees were seen carrying a mattress and a pillow to the San Fernando CID where the guru is being detained.
\nFull Article : guardian.co.tt<\/a><\/p>\n

NEWS UPDATE: May 22, 2007<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

Accused swami made to surrender passport<\/b><\/a>
\nCLUTCHING a cane, an 85-year-old swami dressed in a saffron coloured kurta hobbled up the staircase of the prisoners’ dock in San Fernando Magistrates’ Court yesterday, to answer two counts of sexually assaulting a 22-year-old Guyanese woman…<\/p>\n

Lawyer slams ‘mischief’
\nElderly swami charged with rape<\/i><\/b><\/a>
\nA Hindu holy-man too feeble to walk without help was carried into court yesterday, charged with two sex crimes-which his defenders said he had neither the time nor the energy to commit. <\/p>\n

Swami rape charge big news in India<\/b><\/a>
\nTrinidad and Tobago made the headlines in India yesterday, after newspapers and news websites there carried news of the arrest of famous Hindu Swami Ram Tripathi\u2019s here on charges of sexual assault.<\/p>\n

NEWS UPDATE: May 25, 2007<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

‘Eternal saint’ awaits day in court<\/a><\/b>
\nSwami on rape charge has worldwide following<\/b><\/i>
\nThe Hindu holy man charged with rape and molestation in Trinidad heads a worldwide spiritual organisation with devotees who believe him to be an eternal saint.<\/p>\n

Ram Kripalu Maharaj, 85, is considered by followers to be the first jagadguru (world teacher or master of masters) to be anointed in the last 700 years.<\/p>\n

He is said to be only the fifth jagadguru in 5,000 years.<\/p>\n

UPDATE: May 30 2007<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ailing pundit on rape charge<\/b><\/big><\/p>\n

Wednesday, May 30 2007<\/p>\n

CITING religious commitments in other countries and health reasons, an 85-year-old Hindu pundit from India, yesterday pleaded through his attorneys, for the start of the inquiry at the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court into a charge of rape levelled against the pundit.<\/p>\n

The elderly pundit, dressed in a white kurta (Hindu garment) with a saffron smeared on his forehead, reappeared before deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington to face the charge which alleges he raped a 22-year-old Guyanese woman on May 18 in South Trinidad. <\/p>\n

The accused pundit’s attorney Prakash Ramadhar described the charge as a fabrication and said the pundit is revered by followers in India and other countries and was elevated to the highest level of Hindu spiritual attainment — Jagadguru. <\/p>\n

The pundit, who cannot speak English, was accompanied to court by translator Dinesh Maraj, 19. Attorneys Prakash Ramadhar, Chaitram Sinanan and Jagdeo Singh, represented the pundit. Told the prosecution was not ready to proceed, Ramadhar told Wellington: \u201cWe’re eagerly awaiting to deal with these serious allegations which we believe to be a gross fabrication to spoil the reputation of a pundit with an unblemished character. We hope to give justice to this man and we will devote all the resources available to us to do so.\u201d <\/p>\n

The attorney pointed out that the pundit had already made reservations and bookings to attend several religious functions abroad. During the hearing yesterday, the pundit stood staring silently at the magistrate. Ramadhar told the court that the pundit suffers with a series of ailments including diabetes. Court Prosecutor Sgt Ali informed the court that the complainant — Corporal Dublin — was on study leave. The case was subsequently adjourned.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.newsday.co.tt\/court\/0,57983.html<\/p>\n

UPDATE: May 31, 2007<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Senior Counsel: Rape accused can be named<\/b>
\nBy Anika Gumbs-Sandiford<\/i>
\nSenior counsel Dana Seetahal says that T&T\u2019s current laws allow the publication of the names and photographs of persons charged with sexual offences.
\nShe was speaking in an interview with the Guardian yesterday about the controversy surrounding the publication of the name of an Indian swami charged with rape.
\n\u201cThe law is clear,\u201d said Seetahal, who is also an Independent Senator, referring to the fact that the Sexual Offences Act was amended in 2000. <\/p>\n

UPDATE: June 01, 2007<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Media can name rape accused<\/a><\/b>
\nAn attorney defending swami Jagadguru Ram Tripathi on sex charges apologised yesterday for a misguided legal submission made by another lawyer who sought to have the Express cited for contempt of court.<\/p>\n

UPDATE: June 09, 2007<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Accused holy man gets back passport<\/a><\/b>
\nTHE Hindu holy man charged with rape and molestation received permission to continue his spiritual tour of the world yesterday, after his lawyers begged on behalf of millions of his devotees.<\/p>\n

UPDATE: July 16, 2007<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

State Drops Rape Case Against Swami<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

TrinidadAndTobagoNews.com Reporters
\nJuly 16, 2007<\/i><\/p>\n

\"SwamiThe state dropped its case against Swami Jagadguru Ram Tripathi Maharaj who had been charged on May 18th with performing a grievous sexual assault on a 22 year old woman.<\/p>\n

The Swami walked out of the San Fernando Magistrates Court a free man after the decision was made by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard, to offer no evidence in the matter. Mr. Gaspard claimed that the evidence dealing with the alleged rape victim’s lack of consent was tenuous and as such, the state would not be able to make a prima facie case against the accused.<\/p>\n

The matter, which was heard in the first court before Deputy Chief Magistrate, Mark Wellington this morning, was then dismissed.<\/p>\n

The Swami, who is said to have a large following of Ashrams in several countries including Europe, North America and India, came to Trinidad for a one month trip as part of a devotional tour. He was arrested on May 20th after a 22 year old Guyanese woman claimed that she was assaulted by the Swami in the prayer room of a house where the Swami stayed in Branch Road, Palmiste, San Fernando.<\/p>\n

The Swami was granted 50,000 dollars bail on the condition that he surrendered his passport. On June 9th his attorneys successfully argued for the return of his passport so that he could continue his world tour.<\/p>\n

Lead defense attorney, Prakash Ramadhar, applauded the move by Mr. Gaspard stating that he continues to be an exemplar in the office of the DPP. However, he condemned the police investigators who charged the Swami.<\/p>\n

Addressing his supporters today at Branch Road, Palmiste, Swami Maharaj told his followers that he had forgiven the woman who had accused him of rape. He said the truth had prevailed and the charges were a test of their faith. Swami Maharaj is due to leave Trinidad tomorrow.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.trinicenter.com\/tnt\/2007\/160707.html<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Anika Gumbs-Sandiford, guardian.co.tt Monday 21st May, 2007 A Guru who arrived in Trinidad last week to give religious discourses (sat sangh) throughout the country on Hinduism has been detained in connection with the alleged rape of 22-year-old Guayanese woman. The 85-year-old man, who is unable to speak English fluently, is on a one-month visit … Continue reading Visiting guru held on sex charges<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-religion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=250"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2401,"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250\/revisions\/2401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.trinidadandtobagonews.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}